Three Imaginary Girls - The Showbox at the Market

Dear Posies, I love you…always.

Imaginary Amie — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:54:43 +0000

11 Dec 2010

{The Posies with Star Anna at the Showbox. Photo by Jason Tang.}

We’ve been through a lot together, The Posies and I. Graduating high school and college, getting married (and then getting divorced), losing and finding myself multiple times, so many drinks I can’t count, and more tears, laughter, pain and happiness than I ever thought was possible when I first popped that freshly unwrapped Failure cassette tape into my boom box.

Through all of it, I’ve caught as many live Posies shows as I could, and each one has been amazing in its own way: from standing so close to the (old) Croc’s speakers that I could literally FEEL the music, to swaying in tandem with an appreciative crowd as Jon & Ken acoustically blew our faces off with their awesome harmonies.

The show Saturday night at The Showbox belongs on the list of the best Posies shows I’ve ever been to. Following a rockin’ set (in which Jon and Ken played) with Brendan Benson (I sadly missed Aqueduct entirely), The Posies took the stage to several enthusiastic cheers—and rightly so.

The new songs blended seamlessly into the mix of fan favorites, with "Plastic Paperbacks" from Blood/Candy leading into "Flavor of the Month". Guest vocalist Star Anna did a stunning job filling in for Lisa Lobsinger on "Licenses to Hide", and a slow dance mid-stage by Brendan Benson & his wife during "For the Ashes" gave everyone the warm fuzzies.

I can’t lie, I’m a sucker for the old stuff. So I died a little when they played "Please Return It", and let out a happy squeal during the first notes of "Golden Blunders", followed by "Solar Sister". The encore with "Definite Door" and "Burn & Shine" showcased what I like to call "traditional Posies shred", ending with all of Jon’s guitar strings plucked out, Ken pounding on the keys, Darius wailing on the drums, and Matt jumping up and down so fast while he strummed his bass that he was almost a blur.

The show was also full of the signature banter Posies fans have always loved: Ken and Jon pondering back and forth into the mic about a completely random thing, inevitably followed by some in jokes, and then a few notes which leads into a familiar 70s song (I can’t recall exactly what it was last night – something from Led Zeppelin? It was glorious, despite my fail).

Ignoring the plethora of drunk Aholes—one of which was standing right by us, antagonized us for a bit, and then yelled, "Shut up and play some music" during the banter, which earned him a bitching out by Ken (Hurrah!), and tagged him as the running joke of the night—the show was just what I wanted it to be: a perfect evening of music from a band I know and love, but that can still surprise me every once in awhile.

In short: Dear Posies, I love you…always. XOXO Amie

SET LIST
Plastic Paperbacks
Flavor of the Month
Please Return It
Sad to Be Aware
Licenses to Hide
So Caroline
Golden Blunders
Solar Sister
The Glitter Prize
For the Ashes
Enewetak
Throwaway
She’s Coming Down Again!
Dream All Day
Terrorized

(Encore)
Definite Door
Burn & Shine
You’re the Beautiful One

{The Posies with Star Anna at the Showbox. Photo by Jason Tang.}

The New Pornographers at the Showbox

imaginary lori — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:16:04 +0000

1 Aug 2010

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The New Pornographers packed the Showbox for a second night on August 1st to play to an all-ages crowd that was more than eager to get their dance on. Missed out on the fun? Here are some photos to recap the indie pop-rock brilliance that occured:

More photos on Flickr!

Things look CocoRosie this Friday night, June 25

Chris Estey — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:11:03 +0000

Maybe with drawn-on beards and no doubt charismatically-weird, CocoRosie are coming to the Showbox at the Market this Friday night.

Sisters Sierra and Bianca's new album Grey Oceans has caused a minor fuss with those now feigning boredom with their quasi-outsider "schtick," but as someone who missed liking them when it was keen to do so, I have had a lot of fun with it. Admittedly, most of my love is for "Smokey Taboo" and "Hopscotch," the former kind of stupid but really fetching if you imagine it as tender teenage poetry set to soft bit-hop, and the latter annoying and compelling with a Shirley Temple-like sample leading into Bjork-style warbling. The rest of it alternately pleasures awkwardly and artfully, and that's damn straight-OK with me. Until someone hips me to an earlier recorded era in which they blossomed more brilliantly, I'll enjoy CocoRosie now in my late-discovery ignorance.

With Cibelle opening, CocoRosie should be fun to see live with a bellyful of absinthe or a mildly hallucinogenic brandy, but the good news is that it is an ALL AGES show as well. As long as you damned kids stay out of the bar. Venue opening up at 8 PM, $20 advance and $22 at the door.

Tonight's recommended show: Cold War Kids, Crystal Antlers at Showbox at the Market

imaginary sher — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:58:06 +0000

You're probably familiar with indie rock outfit Cold War Kids through one of their hit singles, as "Hang Me Up to Dry" and "In Hospitals", both from their debut album Robbers and Cowards, have experienced heavy rotation on radio stations across America. Their singles are infectious, with lead singer Nathan Willett leading the steady song rythms by wailing his heart out with a bit of swagger and a touch of soul.

Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun in the New World- 2 for 1 X Tickets!!!

Imaginary Mimi — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:50:42 +0000

Hey, there's peanut butter in my awesome! There's awesome in my peanut butter! Do you like cheap tickets? Do you like X? Here are 2 great tastes that taste great together!

If you act quickly TODAY ONLY, you can get TWO for ONE tickets to see LA punk legends X play at the Market Showbox on Friday, April 10th (with Steve Soto & The Twisted Hearts and The Heels), for the 21 and over set, or the all ages show on Saturday, April 11 (with Visqueen and Steve Soto & The Twisted Hearts).

To take advantage of this fabulous deal, go to www.showboxonline.com, and enter the word "wildgift".

If you are feeling democratic, go to www.xtheband.com and vote for your favorite X song to be included on the setlist for the night you are planning. Perhaps this will help prevent what I like to refer to as the "Freebird Effect," where some drunken clown shouts the same request over and over, usually right in your ear.

M. Ward croons his tunes at The Showbox

Deborah Barnard — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:47:43 +0000

6 Mar 2009

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It's interesting trying to trace a path between M. Ward's older music, wending your way through all the projects Ward has worked on (most notably the 2008 release of Volume One from She & Him with actress Zooey Deschanel) and then setting all that against his newer, sandpaper-smooth songs. Seattle doesn't usually embrace the singer-songwriter until they get to a certain stage of awesome, but M. Ward has cerainly tapped that as... assignation. At Bumbershoot this year, he played at the same time as Beck on the mainstage and definitely drew a crowd out--just like he did again at this show.

California exports Port O'Brien opened relatively early in the night for M. Ward, playing nautical music and asking audience members to bang pots and pans that were passed out during their last number.

In counterbalance, when M. Ward took the stage he played the first portion of his set solo; it was almost like a coffee shop setting and actually made the sold-out Showbox show feel somewhat intimate. Unlike most coffee-shop shows, though, the audience was rapt with attention.

Early in his set, M. Ward threw out "Paul's Song" with some lines that made Seattle transplants and lifers alike tune in:

"Well, I ain't gonna' lie to you
Well, every town is all the same
When you've left your heart in the Portland rain..."

It's true, he's a Portlandite. They get almost the same kind of weather, and the song must have hit home because the room began to quiet down almost instantly. There's nothing quite like the sound of an almost-silent full house, with a rush of furious whispers and occasional appreciative hoots as the only backdrop to the music. It makes the music seem more tangible because you can see and even feel the people around you straining to listen harder.

The venue was charged with this building energy, and it increased when M. Ward brought out a whistling man with a pared-down Andrew Bird style; by the time a full band was fleshed out on stage, the audience had meshed with the music.

Audience members were comparing him to the Mountain Goats, Tom Petty, and even Johnny Cash. A tall order, no doubt, but M. Ward really knows how to plan a setlist that at least evokes these kind of drunken comparisons.

At the end of the show, Chuck Berry was reincarnated! The very last song was "Roll Over Beethoven," complete with gyrations and a flash-back to 90s kid films. The show ended at a cool 11:30 at night, perfect for a mid-week performance that allows a working stiff some hype, relaxation and sleep all in one blow.

It was almost like a coffee shop setting and actually made the sold-out Showbox show feel somewhat intimate. Unlike most coffee-shop shows, though, the audience was rapt with attention.

John Spalding Benefit Concert with Minus the Bear, Rocky Votolato, Cave Singers and more...

Steve Louie — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:28:22 +0000

9 Jan 2009

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On Friday night the Showbox hosted one of the many series of benefit shows for local Seattle legend John Spalding who passed away from cancer last November. All proceeds from the show including merch benefit the John D. Spalding Medical Fund. This was an all-ages show featuring Minus the Bear, Rocky Votolato, Cave Singers, Past Lives (members of Blood Brothers) and Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death.

All the bands turned in great performances and spoke their appreciation for John in front of a supportive all ages crowd.

As local writer Chris Estey writes, “John Spalding… a truly astonishing underground Seattle musician and incredibly incandescent creative spirit… Former guitar player for late 90's punk band Ninety Pound Wuss and performance art/hard rock picadors Raft Of Dead Monkeys, John passed away from the cancer he was diagnosed with four years ago, shortly after marrying a lovely young woman named Jody… John was only thirty-three years old and leaves behind his wife, a deeply loving and proud mother, father, brother and sister, and loyal pooch Scooter. But he also leaves behind a legacy, both relational and musical, in the deep heart of Seattle.”

An all-ages show to support and remember the legendary Seattle musician John Spalding.

Mountain Goats & Kaki King: Not the last happy night of my life

heather hydra — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:01:04 +0000

20 Oct 2008

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The show was packed. The Satanic Messiah EP, sold out. Near impossible to gain front row access, so it was up to the bar with me and my pals.

Kaki King’s style of playing is breathtaking to witness. The tapping and plucking, by all fingers, everywhere, is amazing. She began the set solo, then band members slowly joined her. From the back bar in the Showbox, my boyfriend got really excited for a moment, thinking the longer haired Wurster-esque drummer was indeed the notorious caller of “Best Show in WFMU” and Superchunk fame. After careful scrutiny and lengthy discussion (please know we both have TERRIBLE eyesight) we decided that it simply couldn’t be Jon Wurster.

The songs with little to no vocals were my favorites from her set. I liked the “regular” songs just fine, but was incredibly fascinated by King’s guitar playing and found the vocals distracting. Also working against everything - the impending Mountain Goats set. There were only the two bands, so Kaki King & Co. were able to perform for a “proper” length of time. Before Kaki King’s set was over, Laura (photographer) and I made a mad yet respectful dash for the floor, in order to attempt some sort of two person invasion of the front rows. She was able to after befriending a kindred spirit, while The Boyfriend and I hung back a few people from the front.

O’ Mountain Goats. How much do I love Ye? Are there numbers that reach high enough? Words can not adequately describe the affection I have, from the very bottom of my soul, for the Mountain Goats. The pure unadulterated love I feel for that band is immense. From the first sighting of Jon Wurster and Peter Hughes climbing the steps up to the stage and finding their marks - signaling the crowd to explode into riotous applause and fanatic cheering.

John Darnielle has a high tolerance for song shouters and garbled yelling, responding and disregarding with skill. When he walked onstage, it began. You know, “it.” The goodness. Brilliance. Et Cetera.

Two of my favorite jams from that night were “Going to Georgia” and “Autoclave.” “Lovecraft in Brooklyn” was excellent as well. “The House That Dripped Blood” got me all swoony, in complete love with Darnielle’s nasal vocals. I wrecked my throat yelling “YAY” when JD announced they would next be playing one of my very favorite MG songs, “Pigs That Ran Straightaway Into The Water, Triumph Of.” By the lines “And you send your dark messengers to tempt me / I come from Chino so all your threats are empty” the crowd around me were dancing and loudly singing along, some with arms and fists in the air.

In the middle of the set, Kaki King came back onstage and joined the Mountain Goats to perform their newest project/release, The Black Pear Tree EP. This kind of killed the mood, so to speak, for me. While I was eager to hear this new EP, I wanted more to hear tried and true Mountain Goats concert classics. It was good - I am sad I didn’t pick it up that night - but it cut the “true” Mountain Goats set shorter, which was a bit disappointing to me. Especially so, since I had to leave before the band came back for the encore.

Don’t get me wrong, I had a great time. I enjoyed the show. I got to see the “usual” band of characters usually seen at Mountain Goats concerts in Seattle. One girl in particular became so incredibly ecstatic she whirled around and made out with a young lady behind her. It was rad to see someone experience music so completely they lose their minds for a moment.

(Photos: Laura Musselman)

One girl in particular became so incredibly ecstatic she whirled around and made out with a young lady behind her. It was rad to see someone experience music so completely they lose their minds for a moment.

Minus The Bear Homecoming Show

imaginary stella — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:48:23 +0000

10 Nov 2007

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I’m thrilled that I made it to the Showbox early enough to catch The Helio Sequence, the second band on a stellar three-band lineup (I sadly missed openers Grand Archives). I’d been wanting to check out Helio Sequence for a while, and the Portland band absolutely blew me away. How so much sound – perfected and pristine – can come out of two bodies baffles me. The duo expertly blend transcendental, trippy vibes with guitar-driven full-bore rockers, and Brandon Summers’ voice sounded just as brilliant (clean and rugged at once) in the live arena as recorded.

Minus the Bear’s headlining homecoming show was a true testament to this band’s growth over the past couple months. The Bear is headed back out in another week, but for now, “It’s great to be F*%#ing home,” as said singer/guitarist Jake Snider a few songs in to the set. Clearly Seattle was happy to have them back as well.

Minus the Bear, photo by Chona Kasinger

The crowd soaked up anything the quintet gave them. Up front was a throng of bodies, dancing, bouncing – even crowd surfing—arms extended out toward guitar maestro Dave Knudson, who looked completely in his element, swaying his lanky arms to his own sonic tempo. I’ve been listening to this band in such isolation over the years, somehow thinking that while they surely should be huge, that they somehow weren’t. Boy, was I proved wrong at this sold-out show. The house was diversely packed – the awesomely enthusiastic younger Vera-Project era kids, the requisite hipsters, and even a preppier college pack (this last one surprised me, though I’m happy to see MTB reaching beyond the staid walls of the KEXP crowd). The band even left the stage and returned for a three-song encore—a sure sign of success and of more massive things to come.

Minus the Bear, photo by Chona Kasinger

During the first few songs, Snider’s voice sounded raspy and road-weary, but he found his signature plaintive, calming timbre and for the rest of the night sounded great. When he traded vocal leads with keyboardist Alex Rose, I had to do a double-take. The two sound so similar, I had to watch who was stretched toward the mic to know who was singing. Throughout, the band was solid. There were a few moments where they didn’t see as tight, but the massive wall of sound—keyboard and guitar blips, wandering bass lines, and full-on rock riffs—made up for any shortcomings.

Minus the Bear, photo by Chona Kasinger

The band played through most of the newer, guitar-heavy work off Planet of Ice, also including some of the more danceable tracks off Menos El Oso. Particular highlights were the stripped down almost emo-leanings of “Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey Warehouse” (the crowd singing along to “Let’s get a bottle and drink alone tonight” of this early-career track) and crowd favorite “Pachuca Sunrise”—one of the sweetest tour songs ever penned. I was super excited to hear “Get Me Naked 2: The Electric Boogaloo,” though I longed for the female backup vocals provided by Amy Blaschke on the album version. “Lotus,” the prog-rock, sound explosion that was the closer, stunned and left my ears ringing long into the night.

Minus the Bear’s headlining homecoming show was a true testament to this band’s growth over the past couple months.